Clear your calendar - It's going down! Text Blocks kicks off on May 20th, and you're invited to take part in the festivities. Splash HQ (122 W 26th St) is our meeting spot for a night of fun and excitement. Come one, come all, bring a guest, and hang loose. This is going to be epic!

April

1st

12:00pm

EST

A Grown Up's Guide: Caring for Yourself in a Time of Crisis

Join us for a session designed to help you understand what’s been going on in your brain and body — and how you can stay calm, find joy, and care for yourself and the kids in your life.

Since the global pandemic started, some of us have been having the most vivid dreams. Others can barely fall asleep at night.

Whatever you’ve been feeling, there’s a reason. On Tuesday, May 19th, join us for a session designed to help you understand what’s been going on in your brain and body — and how you can stay calm, find joy, and care for yourself and the kids in your life. Whether you teach, parent, or both, you’ll learn the science behind the wide range of emotions you may be experiencing, and the strategies to help you make it through.

Text Block #1

MEET YOUR FACILITATOR

Lisa Furst, LMSW, MPH is Assistant Vice President at Vibrant Emotional Health, where she directs the Center for Policy, Advocacy and Education and is the Director of the Geriatric Mental Health Alliance of New York. She has nearly 15 years of experience providing public education, training and technical assistance focused on mental health. In her role, she regularly provides training on psychological first aid after disasters, trauma informed practices, and self-care and stress management. She holds a master of social work degree from the Hunter College School of Social Work and a master of public health from the CUNY School of Public Health.

Your Facilitator

Stacey Gershkovich started her education career as a first grade teacher at PS 138 in the Bronx. She joined Success in 2006, as the founding science teacher at our very first elementary school. Stacey would go on to serve as founding principal of Success Academy Harlem 5, before joining the network team to oversee mathematics, science, and scholar talent as Managing Director of STEM. She then served as Managing Director of Schools, where she coached and supported leaders at a portfolio of SA schools. Stacey received her undergraduate degree from Emory University, her Master's in Education from Pace University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Teaching and Learning with a focus in Mathematics Education at NYU. She is mom to Jake, Emma and Riley.

When

Samantha Williams is a host of exceptional ability. Studies show that a vast majority of guests attending events by Samantha have been known to leave more elated than visitors to Santa's Workshop, The Lost of Continent of Atlantis, and the Fountain of Youth.

FACILITATORS

Stacey Gershkovich

Managing Director of Sharing

Stacey started her education career as a first grade teacher at PS 138 in the Bronx. She joined Success in 2006, as the founding science teacher at our very first elementary school. Stacey would go on to serve as founding principal of Success Academy Harlem 5, before joining the network team to oversee mathematics, science, and scholar talent as Managing Director of STEM. She then served as Managing Director of Schools, where she coached and supported leaders at a portfolio of SA schools. Stacey received her undergraduate degree from Emory University, her Master's in Education from Pace University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Teaching and Learning with a focus in Mathematics Education at NYU.

Jessica Sie

Director of Literacy and History

Jessica Sie leads the Literacy and History program at Success Academies as Director of Literacy and History. Jessica graduated from the University of Colorado Denver with a Master of Arts in Literacy, Language, and Culturally Responsive teaching. Prior to joining Success Academies she taught second and third grade for six years at a district school in Denver, Colorado. Jessica joined Success Academies in 2011 as a second grade Lead Teacher at SA Bronx 1. In 2012, Jessica was a third grade Lead Teacher on the SA Bronx 1 third grade team. Jessica moved to the Success Academies network team in 2013 as a Literacy Leadership Resident. Over the past four years, Jessica has developed Common Core Standards-aligned curriculum units and developed and presented professional development sessions for teachers and leaders.

The Robertson Center

Something happens in a room full of educators. Ideas get bigger, barriers shrink, defy-the-odds notions feel downright within reach. We believe in these rooms — in the power of bringing together our country’s fiercest believers in the capacity of kids to help them set it free. At the Robertson Center, makers of magical classrooms find the content, conversation and community they need to accelerate their inspiring work.

Success Academy’s 45 free public schools serve over 18,000 K-12 students across New York City. These scholars - 76% of whom come from low-income households and all of whom are admitted by random lottery - are the highest performing in New York State.